Tourist’s Bangkok Nightmare Ends with Arrest of Tuk-Tuk Driver

[reader]

This incident illustrates the importance of having small denomination bills on hand for any taxi, tuk tuk or motorbike fare.

From Khaosod English

Police Investigators spent nearly two weeks tracking down a tuk-tuk driver who didn’t give change to an American tourist and stole his bag containing valuables worth almost 50,000 baht. The perpetrator used a vehicle with fake license plates.

On September 11, investigators from Chakkrawat Police Station arrested Boonlert Jadsanam, 66 years old, and seized his tricycle as evidence in Soi Rama 6, Soi 21, Phetchaburi Road, Ratchathewi District, Bangkok. Mr. James, the American man, was brought in to identify the suspect.

The incident occurred on August 30, 2024, around 8:22 p.m. Mr. James reported to Chakkrawat Police Station that he had taken a yellow and blue tuk-tuk with an unknown license plate from Phaya Thai BTS station to Soi Mangkon, Chakkrawat Subdistrict, Samphanthawong District. They agreed on a fare of 500 baht. Upon reaching the destination, he paid with a 1,000 baht note, but the driver immediately fled without giving change.

Continues with photo

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/crime-crime/2024/09/11/american-tourists-bangkok-nightmare-ends-with-arrest-of-tuk-tuk-driver/

 

 

[macaroni21]

The part that jumped out at me was "They agreed on a fare of 500 baht."  The trip was from Phaya Thai BTS station which most of us are familiar with. His destination was Soi Mangkon, near Wat Mangkon.  There is an MRT station called Wat Mangkon. So, it would have been far cheaper (under 100 baht) and more comfortable to go from Phaya Thai  to Asok by BTS, and then change to MRT at Sukhumvit station and then go to Wat Mangkon.I reckon it would take less than half an hour in airconditioned comfort, rather than battle traffic jams and breathe vehicular fumes in a non-enclosed tuktuk. 

Alternatively, take the airport train from Phaya Thai to Makkasan. Walk over to Petchaburi MRT station and train down to Wat Mangkon. 

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, macaroni21 said:

The part that jumped out at me was "They agreed on a fare of 500 baht."  The trip was from Phaya Thai BTS station which most of us are familiar with. His destination was Soi Mangkon, near Wat Mangkon.  There is an MRT station called Wat Mangkon. So, it would have been far cheaper (under 100 baht) and more comfortable to go from Phaya Thai  to Asok by BTS, and then change to MRT at Sukhumvit station and then go to Wat Mangkon.I reckon it would take less than half an hour in airconditioned comfort, rather than battle traffic jams and breathe vehicular fumes in a non-enclosed tuktuk. 

Alternatively, take the airport train from Phaya Thai to Makkasan. Walk over to Petchaburi MRT station and train down to Wat Mangkon. 

you too rational. Victim was American and a lot of them are not familiar with concept of public transport , that communist idea along with universal health care and so on.

Plus for first comers navigating transport system in any city is dauting task.

Reading whole article  I was wondering  what an idiot keeps passport in the bag instead on himself somewhere? And shoulder bad worth 3500 ? What it was made from, I guess unicorns cock's skin or something? 

[reader]

27 minutes ago, vinapu said:

you too rational. Victim was American and a lot of them are not familiar with concept of public transport , that communist idea along with universal health care and so on.

Actually majority of Americans prefer universal care, but GOP-controlled Congress is largest recipient of health care industry largess and won't allow it to come up for vote.

Similarly, when provided with availability of public transport, urban Americans make great use of it. Unfortunately, Congress never prioritizes it because fossil fuel and auto industries are ready with the checks every time election time rolls around.

Every attempt to bar lobbyist money from flowing to congress has been shut done by--who else--but same body.

[bkkmfj2648]

11 hours ago, vinapu said:

you too rational. Victim was American and a lot of them are not familiar with concept of public transport , that communist idea along with universal health care and so on.

hahaha - when I lived and worked in NYC - public transport was the number one way to get around easily and to get to the office for work.

When I moved to Denver, Colorado - then your statement is true - as I found that many of the locals found using public transport as a lower class kind of thing and that for their social class status it was more important to use their car and/or SUV.  Also, the Denver public transport pales to what is on offer in NYC.

[macaroni21]

11 hours ago, vinapu said:

Victim was American and a lot of them are not familiar with concept of public transport

Indeed!  I was once in a Seoul hotel and happened to chat with an American couple at breakfast. They said something about hoping to visit, later that day, a site just outside Seoul. It so happened that I had been there just the day before and our conversation ventured into how I made my way there and back. I simply described taking the metro to a line's final stop and then changing to a bus for the last leg. Our hotel was almost on top of the starting metro station, so it would have been the easiest thing in the world to use that routing.

They expressed some horror that I would risk taking the "subway" as they called it. I got the sense they were fearful of being mugged. They kept asking how to rent a car - which I knew nothing about - and I kept saying it was completely unnecessary nor the most convenient since we'd have no idea if traffic could be bad.

To be fair, I vaguely recall they were from Missouri or Arkansas or some such state in the middle of nowhere. I don't think they had a metro system in their hometown, so it would also have been very unfamiliar to them. I'd give them credit for getting all the way to Korea (something to do with Korean War, I recall) when most people in their home state might find a trip to Canada more than enough of an adventure. I mean, like, what's wrong with Canadians? Why is their dollar different? Why is there a foreign language on some public signs?

[Keithambrose]

4 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

Indeed!  I was once in a Seoul hotel and happened to chat with an American couple at breakfast. They said something about hoping to visit, later that day, a site just outside Seoul. It so happened that I had been there just the day before and our conversation ventured into how I made my way there and back. I simply described taking the metro to a line's final stop and then changing to a bus for the last leg. Our hotel was almost on top of the starting metro station, so it would have been the easiest thing in the world to use that routing.

They expressed some horror that I would risk taking the "subway" as they called it. I got the sense they were fearful of being mugged. They kept asking how to rent a car - which I knew nothing about - and I kept saying it was completely unnecessary nor the most convenient since we'd have no idea if traffic could be bad.

To be fair, I vaguely recall they were from Missouri or Arkansas or some such state in the middle of nowhere. I don't think they had a metro system in their hometown, so it would also have been very unfamiliar to them. I'd give them credit for getting all the way to Korea (something to do with Korean War, I recall) when most people in their home state might find a trip to Canada more than enough of an adventure. I mean, like, what's.. wrong with Canadians? Why is their dollar different? Why is there a foreign language on some public signs?

Not just Americans regatd public transport as second class. I had a French client, visiting in London. We were going out to dinner. It was raining, and couldn't find a cab. I said, we'll take the underground.  My client, from Paris, which has an excellent  public transport system,  said,'that will be interesting, I have never travelled on the Subway'! He had 6 cars, including a Porsche he raced at Le Mans,  and 10 motorbikes at home! He was in fact a nice guy. Took me, by car, to some great restaurants in Paris!

[Keithambrose]

Just now, Keithambrose said:

Not just Americans regatd public transport as second class. I had a French client, visiting in London. We were going out to dinner. It was raining, and couldn't find a cab. I said, we'll take the underground.  My client, from Paris, which has an excellent  public transport system,  said,'that will be interesting, I have never travelled on the Subway'! He had 6 cars, including a Porsche he raced at Le Mans,  and 10 motorbikes at home! He was in fact a nice guy. Took me, by car, to some great restaurants in Paris!

I can add one more story. Many years ago, an English Merchant Banker in Hong Kong,  had a meeting with his client,  wealthy Chinese guy. They were to go to a meeting on Kowloon side. The office driver was not available, and the client  said let's go by subway. Said banker replied, 'I do not travel by subway, we will wait'. Good deal of arrogance  there!

[vinapu]

7 hours ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

hahaha - when I lived and worked in NYC - public transport was the number one way to get around easily and to get to the office for work.

When I moved to Denver, Colorado - then your statement is true - as I found that many of the locals found using public transport as a lower class kind of thing 

you see, I was talking about Americans , not New Yorkers, he, he

In New York one can see even people looking like serious business man or lawyers on public transport

[vinapu]

7 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

 I mean, like, what's wrong with Canadians? Why is their dollar different? 

and why dollar is a coin ? and 2 dollars coin? what is is supposed to mean ?

[macaroni21]

17 hours ago, vinapu said:

and why dollar is a coin ? and 2 dollars coin? what is is supposed to mean ?

Actually, the US Mint has issued dollar coins. But it's not at all popular for some unknown reason*. The first time I saw such a coin, I thought it was fake.  The US has also issued a two-dollar bill. Also unpopular and rare. 

*A coin is pretty useless for tipping strippers in bars. Has anyone tried, e.g. in Toronto or Montreal? I guess it's one way of making customers tip with a minimum $5.

(and boyl have we gone off topic)

[vinapu]

12 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

*A coin is pretty useless for tipping strippers in bars. Has anyone tried, e.g. in Toronto or Montreal? I guess it's one way of making customers tip with a minimum $5.

 

I'm 100% sure that main reason of replacing 1 and  2$  bills with coins in Canada  was to ensure strippers are tipped properly